Back in the day, smoking a joint or a hash brownie was a few options to consume marijuana. However, these days we see the sheer range of options available for cannabinoids consumption.

 

There are ointments, tinctures, gummies with the dash of CBD flavor. Dabs is the newest talk of the town for CBD fans.

Weed dabs are made from the concentrated doses of dry herbs used for smoke or vaporize. It is extracted from THC and other cannabinoids using butane or carbon dioxide solvent, which releases sticky oils referred to as shatter, wax, butane hash oil, and budder.

Smoking dabs is a traditional method, but the advancement in extraction methods have boosted its popularity.

In this guide, we’ll share everything about dabs, how to make one, and how it works.

 

Dabs: The Basics

Dabs are made of a potent solution and available in different forms.

  • Shatter: A semi-transparent thin sheet looks like an amber glass. Butter: More of like peanut butter with a doughy consistency.
  • Oil: A thick liquid with dark gold color. They are also known as 710 or honey oil.
  • Live Resin: Made from fresh plants and comes in oil form.
  • Wax: This often looks like brown sugar because of its crumbly, coarse substance.

 

If you choose a dab, you may need some extra equipment. Some prefer regular weed bowl, while others want a specific dabbing rig. For dabbing, you place the concentrate on a hot surface and inhale the vapor that is created during the evaporation process. Here’s a quick look at three common devices that you can use for dabbing.

 

Oil Rigs: A classic piece of dabbing equipment designed explicitly for weed use consists of nail, holder, and dome attached to a water pipe. The concentrate is placed in the holder, you heat the nail with a torch and set the dome in place. The red-hot nail creates the vapor after it meets the concentrate. You inhale the smoke produced from the oil rig. There are domeless nails which are preferable as you don’t have to replace or remove the dome every time.

 

Vaporizers: From cheaper vape pens to expensive desktop models, there are different forms of vaporizers available. Vaporizers come with a heating element that heats the concentrate to the right temperature. Wax, oil, or shatter works best with vaporizers.

Atom Bomb Rigs: They combine the benefits of vaporizers and water pipes. You add the concentrate in an atomizer, and the heated device warms the dab creating vapors. You inhale the vapor from a water pipe.

 

Video Transcript

Chances are you’ve heard about cannabis concentrates at this point. If not, you’ve definitely heard your friends talk about dabs. Let’s talk about these dabs for a minute.
Dabbing has quickly become one of the most popular consumption methods on the market. Cannabis concentrates are products made from the cannabis plant that have been processed to keep only the most desirable plant compounds. Primarily the cannabinoids and terpenes while removing excess plant material and other impurities. The aromas, flavors, and other desirable substances can be retained while removing the leaves, stems, and other unwanted materials.
The most desirable cannabis compounds are found throughout the cannabis plant in small sparkling structures called trichomes. Cannabis concentrate refers to any product created by the accumulation of the trichomes from the plant. Trichomes contain all the cannabinoids THC, CBD, etc and terpenes that give different cannabis strains their unique aromas and physical effects. Compared to the raw plant form of marijuana, cannabis concentrates offer a more potent high, quicker onset of action with a range of consumption methods. With these significant differences, it’s high demand should come at no surprise, but it is important to know exactly what you are dabbing.
We can classify cannabis concentrate on two very important categories: solvent-based and solventless. So what is a solvent?
Answered simply its a substance that dissolves a solute resulting in a solution, but what does this mean for cannabis? Well, a solvent: butane propane or carbon dioxide is put into a solute, in this case, cannabis, and then you get your solution which is the cannabis concentrates that you dab. Pretty simple right, but there is another solution to extracting cannabis concentrates that requires no solvent whatsoever. These concentrates can be classified as solventless and there are major differences between the two different processes.
One requires the use of a solvent during extraction while the other does not. While this may seem like a minor difference it changes everything from the process to the final product. Butane Hash Oil, Rick Simpson Oil, and CO2 extracted cannabis wax are examples of extracts. Each of these comes in a variety of textures such as shatter, batter, budder, and crumble. Different extracts and their varying textures may yield different experiences from one product to another. Rosin, dry sift and kief are examples of concentrates that are made without using solvents.
One solventless concentrate method is physical separation. During the physical separation process, trichome glands are removed from the cannabis starting material using a physical action like shaking or pressing.
When creating a dry fist, for example, cannabis is shaken through a series of screens and specific sizes to make sure only the trichome heads make it to the final product. Let’s take a look at this chart that categorizes the different kinds of cannabis concentrates. As you can see, there are natural non-solvent based concentrates and they are solvent-based. Some non-solvent based concentrates are isolated THCA, rosin, dry sift, kief, cannabis. Concentrates come in many forms, no two dabs are the exact same. It is important to remember that the difference in end result will include flavor, potency, and form. Solventless extraction produces high-quality flavorful concentrates that can leave virtually no residue behind when dabbing. Rosin is an easily accessible method that gained popularity just a few years ago.
The simple method of applying heat and pressure to press out cannabis resins produces the cleanest concentrate there is. By not using any aggressive chemical assistance rosin preserves more terpenes than cannabinoids than any other extraction method. The beauty of rosin is that it can be made from almost any starting material be that dry sift, bubble hash or even straight from the cannabis flower itself. The process is simple, safe, and requires no harmful chemicals to produce.
Amazing products called heat presses have been developed to allow anyone to create their own solvent-free cannabis concentrates risk-free. The heat press method involved placing fresh flowers between two heated plates and letting nature run its course. When not carefully crafted, homemade presses can result in bent frames or leaking hydraulics. So it is highly recommended to invest in quality machines. Our professional-grade nug smasher heat presses are designed to give everyone the opportunity to create their own rosin at home risk-free, fast, and easy. While solvent-based products are currently the most common, many people are switching to solventless these days for a number of reasons. Primarily because solventless products are perceived as a healthier option due to the lack of chemicals used during extraction. Plus, many people believe that without any chemical involved, that the products are in their own natural state with their chemistry unaltered from any solvents.
Rosin can replicate and provide more options for consumers. Now they can enjoy their favorite products without worrying about residual solvents or contaminants. Our mission here at Nugsmasher can be put into three words: Rosin Made Simple. We want to give everyone the opportunity to create their own solventless cannabis concentrates in the comfort of their home quickly, affordably, and easily.

Video Transcript

Chances are you’ve heard about cannabis concentrates at this point. If not, you’ve definitely heard your friends talk about dabs. Let’s talk about these dabs for a minute.
Dabbing has quickly become one of the most popular consumption methods on the market. Cannabis concentrates are products made from the cannabis plant that have been processed to keep only the most desirable plant compounds. Primarily the cannabinoids and terpenes while removing excess plant material and other impurities. The aromas, flavors, and other desirable substances can be retained while removing the leaves, stems, and other unwanted materials.
The most desirable cannabis compounds are found throughout the cannabis plant in small sparkling structures called trichomes. Cannabis concentrate refers to any product created by the accumulation of the trichomes from the plant. Trichomes contain all the cannabinoids THC, CBD, etc and terpenes that give different cannabis strains their unique aromas and physical effects. Compared to the raw plant form of marijuana, cannabis concentrates offer a more potent high, quicker onset of action with a range of consumption methods. With these significant differences, it’s high demand should come at no surprise, but it is important to know exactly what you are dabbing.
We can classify cannabis concentrate on two very important categories: solvent-based and solventless. So what is a solvent?
Answered simply its a substance that dissolves a solute resulting in a solution, but what does this mean for cannabis? Well, a solvent: butane propane or carbon dioxide is put into a solute, in this case, cannabis, and then you get your solution which is the cannabis concentrates that you dab. Pretty simple right, but there is another solution to extracting cannabis concentrates that requires no solvent whatsoever. These concentrates can be classified as solventless and there are major differences between the two different processes.
One requires the use of a solvent during extraction while the other does not. While this may seem like a minor difference it changes everything from the process to the final product. Butane Hash Oil, Rick Simpson Oil, and CO2 extracted cannabis wax are examples of extracts. Each of these comes in a variety of textures such as shatter, batter, budder, and crumble. Different extracts and their varying textures may yield different experiences from one product to another. Rosin, dry sift and kief are examples of concentrates that are made without using solvents.
One solventless concentrate method is physical separation. During the physical separation process, trichome glands are removed from the cannabis starting material using a physical action like shaking or pressing.
When creating a dry fist, for example, cannabis is shaken through a series of screens and specific sizes to make sure only the trichome heads make it to the final product. Let’s take a look at this chart that categorizes the different kinds of cannabis concentrates. As you can see, there are natural non-solvent based concentrates and they are solvent-based. Some non-solvent based concentrates are isolated THCA, rosin, dry sift, kief, cannabis. Concentrates come in many forms, no two dabs are the exact same. It is important to remember that the difference in end result will include flavor, potency, and form. Solventless extraction produces high-quality flavorful concentrates that can leave virtually no residue behind when dabbing. Rosin is an easily accessible method that gained popularity just a few years ago.
The simple method of applying heat and pressure to press out cannabis resins produces the cleanest concentrate there is. By not using any aggressive chemical assistance rosin preserves more terpenes than cannabinoids than any other extraction method. The beauty of rosin is that it can be made from almost any starting material be that dry sift, bubble hash or even straight from the cannabis flower itself. The process is simple, safe, and requires no harmful chemicals to produce.
Amazing products called heat presses have been developed to allow anyone to create their own solvent-free cannabis concentrates risk-free. The heat press method involved placing fresh flowers between two heated plates and letting nature run its course. When not carefully crafted, homemade presses can result in bent frames or leaking hydraulics. So it is highly recommended to invest in quality machines. Our professional-grade nug smasher heat presses are designed to give everyone the opportunity to create their own rosin at home risk-free, fast, and easy. While solvent-based products are currently the most common, many people are switching to solventless these days for a number of reasons. Primarily because solventless products are perceived as a healthier option due to the lack of chemicals used during extraction. Plus, many people believe that without any chemical involved, that the products are in their own natural state with their chemistry unaltered from any solvents.
Rosin can replicate and provide more options for consumers. Now they can enjoy their favorite products without worrying about residual solvents or contaminants. Our mission here at Nugsmasher can be put into three words: Rosin Made Simple. We want to give everyone the opportunity to create their own solventless cannabis concentrates in the comfort of their home quickly, affordably, and easily.

The effects of Dabs-

While the argument is still on how a dab vs. weed high. Some people believe that dabs don’t make them high as a weed. Hence, they intake excessive concentrate, which results in a severe penalty. The most crucial benefit of dabbing is control, as you can control the dosage as per your preference.

  • At the start, it is advisable to experiment with small-batch/dosage specifically for concentrate as they’re four times stronger than dry herb.
  • Buy from a reputable source, because dabs quality differs from purity and strength to extraction method.
  • Clean your dabbing device after every use. You can also use isopropyl alcohol for cleaning. Use water for the final rinse.
  • Follow the storage recommendations mentioned in the user guide to avoid contamination.
  • Try to test if dabbing is your thing before you purchase any expensive equipment.

The classic method of the smoking joint is a popular way to get high as you can quickly determine the dosage and decide which strain to pick depending on CBD or THC content. Around 60% of the THC can enter your blood plasma, and you can feel peak concentrations in just 10 minutes.

While THC concentrations vary due to different extraction processes, it is essential to understand that a weak dab is far stronger than a dry herb. In simple terms, 80% of THC concentrated wax is eight times stronger than a 10% dry herb.

So how much weed do we need to make one gram of dabs or an ounce of dabs? It depends on various factors such as THC percentage, including-

  • The plants were grown outdoors or indoors.
  • Extraction method
  • Type of weed strain
  • When was the plant harvested?
  • The amount of time the solvent was in contact with the material

The answer is- around 16.66 grams of weed is needed to make one gram of dabs. THC concentration in a dab range between 70% and 90%. Even the weakest THC or cannabinoids dabs are triple the potency of the strongest weed strains.

Dabs’ flavor tastes like marijuana strains depend on where they are extracted from. They sometimes taste like vaporized weed. Here are a few things to notice when sampling dabs-

  • Aroma: it should have a weed-like smell. Avoid dabs with a foul, pungent odor.
  • Texture: a good quality hash oil has a syrupy texture, while concentrated CBD strains are more crystalline.
  • Appearance: Shatter will look like stained glass, while hash oil resembles light maple syrup, and crumble related to a honeycomb look.
  • Taste: it should taste like weed. If it feels like solvents, then you have a bad quality product.
Everything You Need To Know About Dabs

Dabbing: Pros vs. Cons

 

Pros-

  • Dabs are better for your health as compared to weed because of a clean hit. A dry herb smoke ends up as tar in your lungs because of combusted plant material. Concentrates eliminate this material, which results in lower levels of tar and greater health benefits.
  • As cooler vapor burns at a lower temperature as a dry herb, it is much smoother and easier on the throat and lungs.
  • Dabbing is the most effective and fastest way to use cannabis for medical reasons.
  • There are fewer chances of second-hand smoke during a dabbing.

 

Cons

  • As concentrates are potent, you consume an excessive amount of THC. The high is faster and stronger, and more hallucinogenic compared to a weed high.
  • For dabbing, specialized equipment is recommended, which is expensive.
  • Dry herb is better when storage is concerned. You can store it in an airtight container, in a glass, or a Ziploc bag for a month. When it comes to dabs, it is difficult to store as each type of concentrate has different storage restrictions. Storing concentrate incorrectly can lead to air contaminants.

 

Final Word

We don’t have a winner in the dabs versus weed battle. Dabs are incredibly powerful, but Federal law enforcement officials regulate them. Concentrates offer the potent and fastest way to consume marijuana, and you can decide the type of dab you want to go with- shatter, wax, oil, or resin. Also, a good quality dab rig is recommended to enjoy the best concentrates.